By Devon Williams

Chris Bao is a man full of contradictions.

He knows that “only some people get obituaries in the New York Times,” yet insists every personal story has value.

As former head news editor of The Daily Princetonian, he has written more than 80 stories but can’t find a word to say about himself.

Even when he states he doesn’t think he is “that interesting,” it’s clear there is more to Bao than meets the eye.

Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, Bao grew up primarily in Plainsboro just 15 miles from Princeton. His parents, both immigrants from China, work in software engineering and financial consulting. Bao calls his younger sister “one of my best friends.”

Despite this closeness, that trust has not been as easy with his parents. Differences in values have shaped Bao’ relationship with them in adulthood, and he is of the mind “found family” with those “who consistently prove that they’re there for you, and you’re there for them as well” is the critical form of community.

“I’m grateful for a lot of my upbringing,” he said, but he also appreciates that “not every family looks alike, and not every relationship with your family is going to look the same.”

Bao spent two years of his youth in China, particularly remembering an educational emphasis on endurance, conformity, and self-sacrifice, through intense mathematical study and stories prioritizing the nation over the individual.

“Back then it seemed pretty normal,” he said.

Since returning in sixth grade, he has come to prefer American individualism. Yet time in both cultures shaped a worldview skeptical of how much “free will” people truly have over who they are.

He believes that behavior is “very heavily influenced by our environment,” rather than chosen character.

This does not allow him to tolerate cruelty or selfishness, however.

“A little bit of kindness and thoughtfulness in your interactions with other people is, I think, something that’s ultimately important,” he said.

Siyeon Lee, a close friend and fellow Daily Princetonian writer, sees those values in the way he approaches the world.

“He’s a deeply analytical person,” She said. “I think he views the world as something that he can sort of dissect and analyze and understand.”

That drive has called him to become one of the most dedicated head news editors and prolific writers the ‘Prince’ has seen.

“I don’t really think about myself, and that’s why I like journalism, because you can think about other people,” he said. “The best interviews come when I try to sort of forget all of my preconceptions and everything I know, and just try and purely hear them out.”

Lee thinks this habit explains why Bao underestimates himself. His journalism “largely stems from… listening to other people and crafting narratives about them” to the extent that “he doesn’t think about himself as much as the average person does.”

Charlie Yale, another close friend from the paper, is more blunt.

“I take issue with that.” Yale said of Bao’ claim that he is uninteresting. “I think he’s extremely interesting.”

Yale sees this humility as a reflection of the intense dedication Bao exemplifies. “If he is going to do something, it’s gonna be done well.”

Bao admits this non-stop work ethic can sometimes verge on neuroticism.

“I’m the kind of person who will ask like five people to read an email before I send it off…or if I misspelled their name even though I checked it like 17 times.”

While deep in the swing of the paper and his studies at Princeton, Bao suffered health problems relating to stress-based carpal tunnel that led him to take a gap year.

Such a setback may slow down the average person, but Bao faced it with acceptance and an unstoppable work ethic. He continued to do independent work while at home, and was still ever-present on campus and at coffee dates with his friends.

“It is entirely possible that I might not be able to do X, Y, Z in my life. But I just have to somehow come to terms with that and…focus on what I can do,” he said.

Now back at Princeton, Bao is considering law school despite his love of journalism. “There are no jobs, there is no pay. You might get assassinated!” he said, but he still loves the field even if not for the long-term.

Whatever he chooses, Lee says Bao “undersells himself.” In her mind, he would be exactly the kind of person to get the New York Times obituary he joked about.

“He would probably work for The New York Times, and then he would die in The New York Times,” she said.

At the very least, he would be well remembered by those who admire his incredible drive and dedication as a journalist but also, as a friend.